MXPA03006131A

MXPA03006131A - Fiber optic component cleaning device.

Info

Publication number: MXPA03006131A
Application number: MXPA03006131A
Authority: MX
Inventors: J Forrest Edward
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works
Priority date: 2002-07-09
Filing date: 2003-07-08
Publication date: 2005-04-19
Also published as: US6865770B2; CA2434676A1; JP2004065958A; JP2010188345A; TW200402333A; CN1244413C; CN1480263A; ATE478737T1; EP1384528A3; KR20040005657A; EP1384528A2; EP1384528B1; JP4851609B2; BR0302083A; AU2003213313A1; CA2434676C; NZ526515A; DE60333888D1; JP4828786B2; AU2003213313B2

Abstract

A device for cleaning fiber optic components includes a container having an opening with a soft, large work surface formed in a side thereof. The device includes a plurality of cleaning wipes located within the container, allowing the wipes to be fed from the inside of the container through the opening and placed on the work surface for cleaning. A method for cleaning fiber optic components is also disclosed.

Description

OPTICAL FIBER COMPONENT CLEANING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a fiber optic component cleaning device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an otic fiber component cleaning device having a large and smooth front working surface, integrally stored, disposable front covers and a method for cleaning the fiber optic components. Fiber optic transmission rates have increased from one gigabit per second to a contemporary standard of ten gigabytes per second. Several networks predict that transmission rates will reach forty gigabytes per second in the near future. Researchers are working to achieve transmission rates in the order of pentabites and terabites per second. In order to achieve, maintain and even pass these transmission rates, the transmission elements (for example, fiber optic conductors) must be manufactured and maintained to be exact with the standards and tolerances. During fabrication and manufacturing, the end faces of the fiber optic component are frequently contaminated with dirt, dust, oil, grease and other debris. End faces can also get dirty in the course of regular use in the field. Cleaning the end faces and keeping them free of scratches, burrs, and the like preserves the accuracy of these very high speed rates. Numerous forms of devices have been used to clean the faces of the ends of the optical fiber, with varying degrees of success. Paper products and other flake materials are not preferred because they are subject to fluff. Avoiding lint is critical, since the fibrous material that clogs an end face can cause the loss of laser light transmission. Additionally, paper products can not be used with a wet cleaning technique. By moistening the paper cleaning products they cause them to disintegrate, exacerbating the problem of lint formation. Other existing cleaning devices cover the cartridge rails of woven material, exposing a very small portion of the rail as a cleaning surface. The tiny size of these surfaces limits the cleaning process of which the devices have a capacity of short and small distances. This method can result in damage to an end face, such as scratching it. Moreover, the cartridge rail design does not allow immediate disposal of the dirty cleaning surface. Instead of this, the dirty material is rolled back into the cartridge. In addition, currently available cleaning devices can not be used in conjunction with both dry and wet cleaning techniques, which are essential for effective cleaning of the end face. Wet cleaning requires a cleaning surface that allows a component to be wrapped in a wet portion to a dry portion. The very small cleaning surfaces of the devices provide an insufficient area for both dry and wet sections. Current devices also make wet cleaning impractical by winding the wet cleaning material back into the cartridge which could cause its entire interior mechanism to become moist, potentially staining the fresh material. Correspondingly, there is a need for a fiber optic cleaning device, with a smooth and large cleaning surface. Desirably, this device leaves no residue on the end face. This cleaning device also allows technicians to use a large cleaning trip, reducing the possibility of damaging one end face. More desirably, the larger cleaning surface and the disposable cleaning material of this device allow the performance of both wet and dry cleaning techniques. A commercial supplier estimates that almost 18, 000 technicians can use this device. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for use in cleaning the fiber optic components includes a container having an opening with a smooth large working surface formed on one side thereof. The cleaning cloths are placed inside the container, allowing the canvases to be fed from inside the container through the opening and placed on the work surface for cleaning. In a preferred embodiment, the container is formed with a box shape. Preferably, the container is formed of cardboard, plank, molded plastic or electrostatic discharge material.

In the preferred embodiment, the opening is formed in a groove shape. Preferably, the opening is located adjacent to the face of the container on which a work surface is placed. Preferably, the work surface is formed of a material that does not flake. More preferably, the work surface is made of a material of tight, closed cells, or an open and covered cell matrix. Preferably, the material is resistant to solvent attack. An example of preference of this material is neoprene. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning cloths are placed on a roll and detached from the adjacent cleaning cloths. A method of cleaning the fiber optic components includes feeding steps of a cleaning cloth through an opening in a container, placing the cloth on a large and smooth work surface on the face of the container for cleaning and wrapping a fiber optic component on the canvas. The method may also include moistening a portion of the canvas, and wrapping the component from the wet portion of the canvas to the dry portion of the canvas. The step of moistening the canvas may include spraying or depositing a solvent otherwise on the canvas. These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The benefits and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the pertinent technology after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a device for cleaning the optical fiber components encompassing the principles of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the present invention is susceptible of an embodiment in various ways, it is shown in the drawings and hereinbelow a preferred embodiment will be described presently with the understanding that the disclosure should be considered as a The invention is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. Furthermore, it should be understood that the title of this section of this specification, specifically "Detailed Description of the Invention", refers to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should it be construed as limiting the matter in matter revealed in the present. With reference to the Figures and in particular with Figure 1 there is shown a cleaning device of the optical fiber component 10 according to the principles of the present invention. The cleaning device includes a container 12 having an opening 14 formed on one side or a panel thereof, a smooth and large working surface 16 on the face 18 of the container, a plurality of cleaning sheets 20 located within the interior of the container. container 12. Cleaning cloths 20 are fed from inside the container 12 through the opening 14, and are placed on the work surface 16 for cleaning. In the present embodiment, the container 12 is formed as a box. The container 12 is preferably formed of cardboard, plank, molded plastic, or electrostatic discharge material. The container 12 can, of course, be formed of any other suitable material, as desired. As will be recognized by persons skilled in the art, this container 12 can be made to be disposable or refillable with canvases (as mentioned below). In a present embodiment, the opening 14 is in a groove shape. The work surface 16 is located immediately adjacent the opening 14 in an adjacent panel 18 of the container 12. In a current embodiment, the work surface 16 is formed from a material that does not flake. Preferably, the non-flake material used in the work surface 16 is a closed and tight cell material. A material and use of closed and tight cells is the commonly available neoprene material. Alternatively, the work surface 16 may be formed of, for example, 'Buna-N (nitrile butyl rubber) vinyl or a similar resistant and soft polymer. Essentially any resistant and soft material can be used. Desirable characteristics for the work surface include liquid impermeability and resistance to chemicals / solvents. At this point, the work surface can be formed of a soft and strong material having a protective layer adhered thereto or formed therein, such as by forming a coextruded or film material. In a current embodiment, the cleaning cloths 20 are placed on a roller 22. The roller 22 has a core 24. The cleaning cloths 20 have perforations 26, which allow the used canvases to be cut off the roller 22 and discarded . A method of cleaning a fiber optic component includes feeding a cleaning cloth 28 through an opening 14 in a container 12, placing the cloth 28 on the work surface 16, and wrapping the fiber optic component over the canvas 28. As an alternative method of cleaning an optical fiber component, a portion 30 of a canvas 28 can be wetted, so that the component can be wrapped from the wet portion 30 to the dry portion 32. The wet portion 30 can wetting by spraying a solvent on the canvas 28. As will be recognized from the figures and the foregoing description, the container 12 has a large and smooth working surface 16 fixed to the face of the container 12. Because many of the fiber components optics benefit from the use of both wet and dry cleaning methods, it has been observed that a large work surface 16 allows cleaning methods to be carried out to both wet and dry. It has also been found that the large work surface 16 allows the technicians to clean the components using longer and less damaging cleaning trips than small and short cleaning trips, which can cause scratches. All patents referred to herein are incorporated by reference, whether or not they are specifically used within the text of this disclosure. In the present revelation, the words "a" or "vuna, one" should be taken to include both the singular and the plural, and conversely, any reference to plural articles should, when appropriate, include the singular. It can be seen from the foregoing that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the genuine spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention It should be understood that no limitation is attempted or should be inferred with respect to the illustrated embodiments. the

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for cleaning an optical fiber component, comprising: a container having an opening; a smooth, large work surface on one face formed on one side thereof; and a plurality of cleaning liners located inside the container, where the canvases are fed from the interior of the container through the opening and placed on the work surface for cleaning. 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the container has a box shape. 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the container is formed of cardboard, plank, molded plastic or electrostatic discharge material. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the opening has a groove shape. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the face on which the work surface is adjacent to a side in which the container opening is formed. 6. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the work surface is formed of a material that does not flake. The device according to Claim 6, wherein the work surface is formed of a closed and tight cell material, or an open and covered cell matrix. The device according to Claim 7, wherein the working surface is formed of neoprene. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of cleaning cloths are placed on a roller. The device according to Claim 9, wherein the roller includes a core. The device according to Claim 1, wherein each of the pluralities of cleaning cloths is detached from the adjacent cleaning cloths. 12. A method of cleaning an optical fiber component, comprising the steps of: feeding a cleaning cloth through an opening in a container; placing a canvas on a large, soft work surface on one side of the container for cleaning; and wrap the fiber optic component on the canvas. 13. The cleaning method of an optical fiber component according to Claim 12 includes the steps of moistening a portion of the canvas, and wrapping the component from the wet portion of the canvas to the dry portion of the canvas. Cleaning a fiber optic component includes spraying a solvent on the canvas.